Free For All

OK brownie, I'm a believer. And thanks for the Freddie Webster info.

Just got back to KC. Holy shit, it's hotter'n hell here! It's like 150 degrees with 1000 percent humidity. I use up my shower just getting the mail. I'm ready for some good 'cue, though............

He's very refreshing..........

Right now I'm glad I don't depend totally on gigs to make a living- I'm also teaching and doing some writing projects which allow me to be fairly choosy about gigs, although I'm doing more TUX/BUX/SUX gigs than in the recent past. And am grateful for them.

Hey Soul Stream- I lived in Austin for much of the eighties. At that time it was a great music town, but a mediocre jazz town. How is it these days? More jazz clubs? is the Elephant Club still around? I sure played a lot of salsa gigs- are Beto Y Los Fairlanes still playing around? Mitch Watkins? How long have you been there? So many questions...........

I was just talking about this very thing w/someone recently. Regardless (or should I say "irregardless", I love that word) of who's been in office, my gigging situation over the years has remained fairly consistent. Democrat or Republican, it hasn't really mattered, the work was there. This is the first time I've see work dry up up to the point of seeing everyone getting REALLY nervous. Now, in light of recent board events I am not in the least interested in turning this into a political thread, but the bottom line is that the crappy economy is really affecting musicians at last. I've talked to guys in NY and Chicago and it's sucking EVERYWHERE. Plus I believe that advancements in home entertainment are keeping people from going out as much. The upside is that I think that this is just a downside of a cycle that will improve eventually, I hope..........

How many stars are possible? I mean, if 10 stars are possible, how great can he be? And is he number five of five? I mean if he's like number two or three, then maybe, but number FIVE? Has he been on Iron Chef?

Yes! Good choice!

Lately I've been enjoying Soul Shoutin', a twofer that combines that side with The Soul Is Willing. "Grassella Oliphant" on drums?- can't say I've heard that name before. The music grooves seriously, though. Stanley and Shirley worked so well together. Good travelin' music.

......and of course Red Garland.

I don't know if I'd call Wynton Kelly the bluesiest, but I sure like the feeling he gets when he play da blues.

I agree completely, Lon. I have many favorite sides where the playing does indeed trancend rec. quality, like the live Trane/Monk, the Clifford Beehive (did that one ever make it to CD?), several Bird recordings and the live Birth of the Cool session, to name but a few. God will be in my house very soon!

Message received loud and clear! Thanks Chuck!

I've heard that Miles was influenced by Freddie (or is it Freddy?) Webster, especially regarding his approach to the use of the harmon mute. Are there some decent FW recordings to check out? I seem to remember a Bud Powell date with FW on a couple cuts. I see a bunch of sideman dates on AMG, but I was wondering what the Organissimites might recommend.

I love both Pablo sets. Reasonably priced, too. Several times I've almost bought the Tatum HighNote "God Is In The House". Is there a concensus that this is a necessary purchase? I realize that it consists of those Jerry Newman acetates (which are sometimes of questionable quality) but how IS the quality of the recording? I always hear that Tatum live is often preferable to Tatum in the studio, so I'm interested in some of these live releases.

I remember hearing that Gary Larsen (Far Side) is a guitarist and Jim Hall fan- he did a cover for one of Hall's recordings. I thought I heard that he told Hall he'd do it for either one million dollars or one guitar lesson. Also, remember that ad in DB or JT that showed Scofield hanging out and playing w/Alan Arkin?

That's the band Danny Elfman was in, right? I liked a lot of their stuff.

I have been to the UK many times and always manage to find obscure titles that are nowhere to be found in the US, so I don't think we have any kind of a "leg up" on Europe. You also see many titles issued over there before we get them. I'm sure this problem or one similar to it will hit us over here eventually so I, for one, am not in the least "smug" about this issue. Cheers!

Good Chambers compositions. Some tasty Spaulding flute work (I actually like his flute playing) Bobby Hutcherson. I'd say GET IT!

BTW, another posting day like today and Jim will be the next to reach 2000. How does that sit with you, Rooster? I mean, there can only be ONE "master groover", right?

Guy's got balls................

Ed Bradley

Have you heard this one yet, clandy44? How is it? How's the recording quality? Any input is greatly appreciated.

Sorry. Got greedy. Conrad Janis. George Segal.

Have you seen "Wild Man Blues"? It's a documentary following Allen and his band on a tour. It's pretty funny and quite bizarre. Other celeb jazz fans: Kevin Spacey (as mentioned in my UK thread) Clint Eastwood Jeff Goldblum (plays piano) Chevy Chase (plays piano) Jackie Gleason Penn Jillette (plays bass) Malcolm Jamal-Warner (plays bass) Peter Weller (Robocop; plays trumpet) Harvey Korman (big jazz fan) Jack Lemmon (plays piano- once sat in on a gig I was on) I'm sure there will be many more.....................